Page 33 of From Maybe to Baby

"Computer magic," Alexa answers, and just like that, both kids are looking at her like she's some kind of tech prophet. "I bet we can make some real magic happen here."

"Can you do magic?" Jace's eyes go wide. "Like Elsa?"

"Different kind of magic." Alexa's fingers move faster now, weaving some complicated pattern that has Jace literally bouncing with excitement. "I can make regular braids look like magic braids."

"Dad can't do braids," Lukas informs her solemnly. "He tries though. On Jace, not me. Because I’m a boy."

"Thanks for that, buddy."

"He does good ponytails," Jace adds loyally. "Lumpy ponytails."

"Lumpy ponytails are very in this season," Alexa says with perfect seriousness, and I can’t wipe the damn grin off my face.

"Watch this." Lukas, apparently deciding he's had enough of the hair talk, launches into his latest pool routine. "I'm practicing to be like Daddy."

"Wow," Alexa manages to say with a straight face as my son demonstrates what he calls a "hockey swim"—basically just splashing while making puck shooting noises.

"Daddy plays hockey," Jace informs her, in case that wasn't already clear. "He's real good."

"I've heard that," Alexa says carefully, maintaining her professional tone even as Lukas sends a tidal wave of splashes our way. "Your dad's famous."

"Famous means lots of people know him," Lukas explains. "Like Mickey Mouse."

"Exactly like Mickey Mouse," I agree, catching Alexa's barely suppressed smirk. "Though Mickey probably has better hair-styling skills."

Jace twists around to face Alexa. "Can you come to my birthday? It's a princess party," she says, clapping

"It's not for three more months," I add quickly.

Luke executes another splash attack. "You have to come. I'm gonna do hockey moves at the party."

"I thought it was a princess party?"

"Hockey princesses." Both kids say it like it's obvious.

"I like ballet AND hockey," Jace announces proudly.

Alexa secures the braid with a flourish. "There. One magic braid, fit for a hockey princess."

Jace’s hands rush to her new hairstyle, her squeals of delight attracting looks from all around the pool.

She spins to face us, braid whipping around like a weapon. "Daddy, look. It's like Elsa."

"Beautiful," I agree, though I'm watching Alexa's face as my daughter throws her arms around her. She’s a combination of flattered and uncomfortable at the same time, and quickly lets go, remembering her professional distance.

"My turn." Lukas demands, climbing out of the pool. "Can you make my hair do hockey moves?"

"Pretty sure your hair's too short for braids, buddy."

"But I want magic too." He gives Alexa his best sad-kid eyes, the ones that usually get him extra dessert from his grandmother. "Please?"

I'm about to intervene—my kids are professionals at wearing people down—but Alexa surprises me.

"How about this kind of magic?" She pulls her phone out, tells Lukas to jump, and snaps a quick photo. A few taps later, she shows him the screen, where she's somehow added effects that make it look like he's shooting ice from his hands.

"WHOA." Both kids crowd around the phone, previous activities forgotten. "Can you make me shoot fire? Can you make Jace fly? Can you?—"

"Hold on there, kiddos." I step in before they can completely overwhelm her. "Miss Minty's here to work, remember? To write about the resort?"

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